Hair styling device &amp; methods of use thereof

ABSTRACT

Embodiments of the invention are directed to hair styling devices for curling and/or styling hair. In one embodiment, the hair styling device includes a glove with a cylinder removably or permanently attached thereto. The glove may be heat-resistant and the cylinder may be heat-conducting. In one embodiment, the cylinder may be positioned in a palm region of the glove. The glove may be utilized by a user to curl hair by wrapping a length of hair around the cylinder or a section of the cylinder. The hair may be curled by providing heated air (e.g., via a blow drier) onto the hair and cylinder, which may heat up so as to impart heat on the hair.

FIELD

Various features pertain to hair styling devices. At least one aspect pertains to a glove having a hair curling component attached to the palm region of the glove.

BACKGROUND

In modern societies, women (and sometimes men) have invested considerably in unique and fashionable hair styles. As a result, there is a very profitable industry relating to hair styling services and products. At least one hair “style” that has been ubiquitous and lasting is adding temporary curls to one's hair whether the hair is straight, substantially straight, or even curly. Temporarily adding curls to one's hair can add beauty, bounce and style among other benefits.

A conventional method of adding temporary curls to one's hair is the use of a plurality of sponge rollers. These sponge rollers generally include a clipping mechanism for locking the roller into place once hair is wrapped around the roller. Typically, the user's hair is wet when the roller is incorporated into the hair. A user or stylist may tease out a portion of hair, place the roller at the end of the portion of hair, roll the roller toward the scalp, and then clip the clipping mechanism into place. This process is repeated until the desired number of rollers is applied. One usually applies the rollers before sleeping so that the hair “sets”. The following day and/or after the hair dries, the rollers are removed resulting in temporary curls throughout the hair wherever the rollers were placed. Rollers which are capable of being pre-heated may also be utilized using this process. This conventional method suffers from obvious disadvantages such as being inconvenient, cumbersome, and time-consuming. Moreover, many women prefer to wash their hair in the morning before starting their day; however, this conventional method obviously does not allow for that.

Another conventional method of adding temporary curls to one's hair is the use of a curling iron. A curling iron is a tool used to change the structure of the hair, e.g., from straight to curly, with the help of heat. Typically, a curling iron includes a rod on a proximal end and a heating “tong” on a distal end. The curling iron generally includes a power cord which is adapted to couple to a power outlet. The user or stylist may grip the proximal end (which remains cool to the touch) and may use a thumb to manipulate the heating “tong” to curl and/or hair. A user or stylist may tease out a portion of hair, open the heating “tong” by depressing a spring-mechanized pressing mechanism, release the spring-mechanized pressing mechanism to grip the portion of hair, and then roll the curling iron toward the scalp. After seconds or minutes, the curling iron is released by depressing the spring-mechanized pressing mechanism and removing the curling iron from the portion of hair. This process is repeated until the desired number of curls is reached. This conventional method suffers from disadvantages such as being inconvenient due to the power cord which may become entangled due to repeated use. Moreover, many stylists find curling irons inconvenient because the stylist is often multi-tasking with his/her hands when styling hair. Using a curling hair may limit the use of the stylist's hands when styling and may also limit unique or subtle styles that the stylist may effectuate in view of that the curling iron is used as an extension tool (to the stylist's hand or hands).

SUMMARY

A hair styling device, comprising: (i) a glove adapted to fit over a hand of a user; and (ii) a heat-conducting curling component attached to the glove is herein disclosed. The hair styling device may further include means for removably attaching the heat-conducting (hair) curling component to a palm area of the glove. The means for removably attaching the heat-conducting curling component to the glove may include at least one of a pressure-fit fastener, a threaded male and female mechanism, and/or Velcro™. The heat-conducting curling component may be made from at least one of a metal and ceramic material. The heat-conducting curling component may be hollow or solid and may include a plurality of apertures symmetrically spaced thereon. The curling component may further include a plurality of bristles symmetrically spaced about the heat-conducting curling component. In some implementations, the heat-conducting curling component may have a cylindrical shape with a diameter between one centimeter and five centimeters. The glove may include a heat-resistant material to insulate the user's hand from the heat being imparted onto the hair and/or the curling component. In some implementations, the hair styling device may even include means for wirelessly heating (e.g., an electrical resistive heating coil or rod) the heat-conducting curling component wherein the means for wirelessly heating the heat-conducting curling component may be incorporated within the glove. The heat-conducting curling component may be passive (i.e., does not generate its own heat) and may be removably attached to a palm portion of the glove. The heat-conducting curling component may be exchangeable with other heat-conducting curling components.

A method of styling hair, comprising: (i) placing a heat-resistant glove on a hand of a user; (ii) attaching a heat-conducting curling component to a palm portion of the heat-resistant glove; and (iii) manipulating hair about the heat-conducting curling while applying heat to achieve hair curling is herein disclosed. The method may further include selecting a heat-conducting curling component from a plurality of heat-conducting cylinders, each heat-conducting cylinder having a different-sized diameter. In some implementations, the diameter of each heat-conducting cylinder may be between one centimeter and five centimeters. The method may further include heating the heat-conducting curling component prior to attaching the heat-conducting curling component to the palm portion of the heat-resistant glove. Alternatively, the heat-conducting curling component may be heated due to hot air being blown toward the curling component (e.g., by a blow drier, etc.) during the hair curling process. That is, the heat-conducting curling component may retain heat from hot air from an external blow drier to curl the hair. Additionally, the heat resistant glove may be interchangeable between a left hand and a right hand and the heat-conducting curling component is also attachable to opposite sides of the glove.

An apparatus, comprising: (i) a heat-resistant glove; (ii) means for curling hair; and (iii) means for coupling the means for curling hair to a palm region of the glove is herein disclosed. The means for curling hair may include at least one characteristic selected from the group consisting of a cylindrical configuration, a hollow configuration and a plurality of apertures symmetrically spaced thereon.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a set of hair curlers which may be used to curl hair with a hair styling device according to embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a hair styling device according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the hair styling device of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the hair styling device of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a back view of the hair styling device of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a left side view of the hair styling device of FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is a right side view of the hair styling device of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention.

Embodiments of the invention are directed to hair styling devices for curling and/or styling hair. In one embodiment, the hair styling device includes a glove with a cylinder removably or permanently attached thereto. The glove may be heat-resistant and the cylinder may be heat-conducting. In one embodiment, the cylinder may be positioned in a palm region of the glove.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a set of hair curlers which may be used to curl hair with a hair styling device according to embodiments of the invention. As shown, a heating tray 102 may hold and/or heat a plurality of curlers 104. The heating tray 102 may be made of a heat-resistant or heat-tolerant plastic material such as those known by one of ordinary skill in the art. The heating tray 102 may include a base 102 a and a reclosable lid 102 b. In one embodiment, heating tray 102 is in electrical communication with a power source via a power cord (not shown). The heating tray 102 may include a plurality of rods (not shown) symmetrically positioned within an interior bottom of the base 102 a for situating the plurality of curlers 104 for heating thereof or for situating and/or storing the plurality of curlers or heat-conducting cylinders 104 (hereinafter used interchangeably) when not in use.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a hair styling device according to an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the hair styling device of FIG. 2. As shown, the hair styling device 200 includes a form-fitting glove 206 and a heat-conducting cylinder 204 attached thereto. The form-fitting glove 206 may include a palm portion 208 and a plurality of finger members 210 integrally attached thereto. The form-fitting glove 206 may be sized to fit over a hand of a person and may include a heat-resistant and/or insulating material such as those known by one of ordinary skill in the art.

The heat-conducting cylinder 204 may be made of a heat-conducting material such as a metal or ceramic material. For example, aluminum may be used as the heat-conducting material since it heats and cools quickly. In one embodiment, heat-conducting cylinder 204 may be coated with a heat-conducting coating such as those known by one of ordinary skill in the art. The heat-conducting cylinder 204 may be approximately between one (1) centimeter to about five (5) centimeters in diameter. The heat-conducting cylinder 204 may be hollow and may include a plurality of apertures 212 symmetrically spaced thereon; however, other configurations are within the scope of the invention. The heat-conducting cylinder 204 may be positioned within the palm portion 208 of the form-fitting glove 206. However, other suitable positions for the heat-conducting cylinder 204 are within the scope of the invention.

The heat-conducting cylinder 204 may be removably attached to form-fitting glove 206 by any attachment means 214 known by those of ordinary skill in the art. Attachment means 214 include, but are not limited to, pressure-fit fasteners, a threaded male/female fastener or mechanism or Velcro™. In one embodiment, attachment means 214 is a threaded male/female mechanism. For example, an internally threaded ring may be fixedly attached to palm portion 208 of form-fitting glove 206. Heat-conducting cylinder 204 may include an externally threaded base portion. Thus, a user may threadedly engage the externally threaded base portion of heat-conducting cylinder 204 to the internally threaded ring attached to palm portion 208 of glove 206 to secure heat-conducting cylinder 204 thereto. In other embodiments, the cylinder 204 may be fixedly coupled or attached to the glove 206. Also, in some embodiments, heat-conducting cylinder 204 may include a plurality of bristles (not shown, explained in more detail below).

In one embodiment, the heat-conducting cylinder 204 may be preheated using a heating tray such as that shown in FIG. 1. For example, the heat-conducting cylinder 204 (or a plurality thereof) may be positioned on the plurality of rods of the heating tray. The heating tray may be connected to a power source via the power cord. The plurality of rods transfer heat to heat-conducting cylinders 104 when the heating tray is connected to the power source. Once a desired heat is obtained, the user or stylist may position the hair styling device 200 (i.e., without the heat-conducting cylinder 204) on his/her hand and select/remove at least one heat-conducting cylinder 204 from the heating tray to removably attach to hair styling device 200 (as explained previously).

In another embodiment, the glove 206 may incorporate a heating element, such as a mica heater, to heat heat-conducting cylinder 204. An example of a mica heater is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,345,055, which is hereby incorporated by reference.

In another embodiment, the hair styling device 200 may be used in conjunction with a hair dryer and without preheating of the heat-conducting cylinder 204. For example, a user or stylist may simultaneously blow dry hair while using the hair styling device 200 with the cylinder 204 attached thereon to create waves or curls in the hair to achieve a desired style. The user or stylist may grasp a portion of hair (wet or dry) with hair styling device 200 and wrap it around heat-conducting cylinder 204. The user or stylist applies air from hair dryer (may be heated or non-heated air from the hair dryer) to the hair until the portion of hair is dry or until a desired curl or style is achieved (e.g., between five seconds and five minutes). The heat and/or air (heated or non-heated) from the hair dryer assists in “setting” the waves or curls in the hair. For example, hot air may be utilized to soften and/or curl hair around the heat-conducting cylinder 204 and then cool air may be applied to set the curl. Additionally, when heated air is utilized, the hot air may serve to heat the cylinder 204 which facilitates curling of the hair wrapped thereon.

Note that while the styling device 200 may be used by a hair stylist to curl another person's hair, the styling device 200 may also be used by a user to curl his/her own hair.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the hair styling device of FIG. 2. In this example, a left-handed glove 206 is illustrated. In other embodiments, a right-handed glove may be used instead. In yet other embodiments, the glove 206 may be interchangeable between left and right hands. In such cases, the cylinder 204 may also be removable and attachable to opposing surfaces of the glove 206. For instance, the cylinder 204 may be attachable to opposing palm regions of the glove such that it remains on the user's palm whether the glove is worn on the right or left hand.

FIG. 5 is a back view of the hair styling device of FIG. 2. As noted above, the glove 206 may be interchangeable between a left hand and a right hand. A left handed configuration is illustrated in FIG. 5. Consequently, in a right handed configuration, the back of the glove 206 may serve as the “palm” region to which the cylinder 204 attaches.

FIG. 6 is a left side view of the hair styling device of FIG. 2. Note that the height of the cylinder 204 may vary according to various implementations.

FIG. 7 is a right side view of the hair styling device of FIG. 2.

Embodiments of the invention have several advantages over prior art methods and devices for styling hair. For example, a user or stylist is able to simultaneously use a hair dryer and the hair styling device to style hair while drying the hair. In this manner, the user or stylist can impart waves or curls in the hair while drying instead of drying the hair first followed by styling the hair with, for example, a curling iron. Also, because the hair styling device does not require a power cord, the user or stylist is able to avoid entangling a power cord in the hair when imparting waves or curls to the hair. Other advantages will be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art.

In a more general sense, the heat-conductive cylinder 204 may be one type of heat-conductive curling component. Such heat-conductive curling component may be cylindrical in shape but may also have other shapes and/or sizes. For example, the heat-conductive curling component may be elliptical, octagonal, triangular, and/or square in shape. Additionally, the heat-conductive curling component may be contoured along its length. For instance, rather than being purely cylindrical (e.g., where the diameter is the same along its length), the heat-conductive curling component may have a contoured shape along its length (e.g., where the diameter changes along its length). In some examples, the heat-conductive curling component may be “passive” in the sense that it does not provide or generate its own heat for curling hair.

While certain exemplary embodiments have been described and shown in the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that such embodiments are merely illustrative of and not restrictive on the broad invention, and that this invention is not be limited to the specific constructions and arrangements shown and described, since various other modifications may occur to those ordinarily skilled in the art. 

1. A hair styling device, comprising: a glove adapted to fit over a hand of a user; and a heat-conducting curling component attached to the glove.
 2. The hair styling device of claim 1, further comprising: means for attaching the heat-conducting curling component to a palm area of the glove.
 3. The hair styling device of claim 2, wherein the means for removably attaching the heat-conducting curling component includes at least one of a pressure-fit fastener, a threaded male and female mechanism, and Velcro™.
 4. The hair styling device of claim 1, wherein the heat-conducting curling component is made from at least one of metal and ceramic material.
 5. The hair styling device of claim 1, wherein the heat-conducting curling component is hollow.
 6. The hair styling device of claim 5, wherein the heat-conducting curling component includes a plurality of apertures symmetrically spaced thereon.
 7. The hair styling device of claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of bristles symmetrically spaced about the heat-conducting curling component.
 8. The hair styling device of claim 1, wherein the heat-conducting curling component has a cylindrical shape with a diameter between 1 centimeter and 5 centimeters.
 9. The hair styling device of claim 1, wherein the glove includes of a heat-resistant material.
 10. The hair styling device of claim 1, further comprising: means for wirelessly heating the heat-conducting curling component, wherein the means for wirelessly heating the heat-conducting curling component is incorporated within the glove.
 11. The hair styling device of claim 1, wherein the heat-conducting curling component is passive and is removably attached to a palm portion of the glove.
 12. The hair styling device of claim 11, wherein the heat-conducting curling component is exchangeable with other heat-conducting curling components.
 13. A method of styling hair, comprising: placing a heat-resistant glove on a hand of a user; attaching a heat-conducting curling component to a palm portion of the heat-resistant glove; and manipulating hair about the heat-conducting curling component while applying heat to achieve hair curling.
 14. The method of claim 13, further comprising: selecting the heat-conducting curling component from a plurality of heat-conducting cylinders, each heat-conducting cylinder having a different diameter.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the diameter of each heat-conducting cylinder is between 1 centimeter and 5 centimeters.
 16. The method of claim 13, further comprising: heating the heat-conducting curling component prior to attaching the heat-conducting curling component to the palm portion of the heat-resistant glove.
 17. The method of claim 13, wherein the heat-conducting curling component retains heat from hot air from an external blow drier to curl the hair.
 18. The method of claim 13, wherein the heat resistant glove is interchangeable between a left hand and a right hand and the heat-conducting curling component is also attachable to opposite sides of the glove.
 19. An apparatus, comprising: a heat-resistant glove; means for curling hair; and means for coupling the means for curling hair to a palm region of the glove.
 20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the means for curling hair includes at least one characteristic selected from the group consisting of a cylindrical configuration, a hollow configuration and a plurality of apertures symmetrically spaced thereon. 